Portable cooler with disguised valuables compartment

ABSTRACT

A portable cooler of the kind used to store food and beverages and used to keep ice has a hidden compartment for safekeeping valuables. A disguised or camouflaged access door is provided in the outer wall of the cooler which permits entry to the hidden compartment. Thermal conductivity is provided between the hidden compartment and main interior compartment to allow perishable items such as medications to be kept cooler than the usual ambient temperature outside the cooler. In a preferred embodiment, an internal drawer is provided within the hidden compartment for holding valuables such as keys, cell phones or medications. Optional locking means and an additional barrier or flap is provided to prevent unauthorized removal of items.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

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REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The activities associated with beach going, swimming or playing sports are often at odds with the safekeeping of valuables. An obvious reason is that fewer clothes are worn by people participating in athletic or recreational activity so there are fewer places to store items like keys, cell phones or medications. There are also instances when these items may be left unattended in a vehicle. The fear that these items may be lost or stolen fosters a need for a method of safely stowing them when they can't be carried or watched. As such it is useful to have a safe place to keep important items thereby allaying the owners' anxiety and enhancing the value of their recreational experience.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to portable safes and more particularly to transportable coolers for food and beverages used for picnicking or tailgating or for other recreational activities in which the cooler is equipped with a provision for storing valuables.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Numerous devices have been invented to manage this problem. For example, a beach locker described by Wood (U.S. Pat. No. 4,664,389 B1) (1987) comprises a container for valuables having an anchoring screw extending downward from the underside of the container. The screw is rotated into the sand making it difficult for a thief to carry off the container.

A patent issued to Boyce, (U.S. Pat. No. 6,082,157) (2000), comprises the combination of a round lockable container and a beach umbrella. The container is attached to the vertical shaft of the beach umbrella which is inserted into the sand anchoring the combined assembly.

Another approach described by Shaw (U.S. Pat No. 7,401,482 B1) (2008) discloses a portable locker combined with a beverage tray and a carrying bag. The locker may be used to carry food, beverages or other items to job sites, work sites or “fun sites” and features a hinged top with a combination dial for a door lock.

The present invention is an improvement over the most pertinent prior art because it uses disguise or unobtrusiveness to safeguard the stored valuables. The idea of a disguised safe has been the basis of many prior art inventions such as a patent issued to Dyer (U.S. Pat. No. 2,086,018) (1937) for a refrigerator safe in which a hidden compartment is located in an ordinary refrigerator.

Clark (U.S. Pat. No. 6,135,034) (2000) teaches the use of a trash can as a safe as it contains a hidden compartment in a false bottom.

A more elaborate disguised safe is described in a patent issued to Cline (U.S. Pat. No. 7,043,946) (2006) in which a device which appears to be a water heater or water softener apparatus is actually a safe.

Perhaps the most familiar example of this type of concealment device is described by Cleveland (U.S. Pat. No. 4,531,635) (1985) in which a plastic article resembling a rock or other natural object is used to store keys or similar items.

Most of the foregoing prior art devices are unsuitable for use at a beach or swim club. Those devices that have been developed specifically for use in those venues have disadvantages which are readily overcome by the present invention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention comprises a novel portable cooler of the kind used to store food and beverages and used to keep ice. Conventional coolers like these are frequently taken to a beach or swim club or to some other site of recreational activity. A good example of this type of cooler is Model no. 6200A748 manufactured by The Coleman Company, Inc., of Wichita, Kans. At times the portable cooler may remain in a vehicle and at other times it may be brought closer to the recreational activity.

The present invention discloses a portable cooler having a hidden compartment for safekeeping valuables contained within the cooler. A disguised flap or access door is provided in the outer shell of the cooler which permits entry to the hidden compartment. In a preferred embodiment, an internal drawer is provided within the hidden compartment for holding valuables such as keys, cell phones or medications. When the flap door is opened, the internal drawer can be slid out enabling access to the contents. Optional locking means is provided to prevent unauthorized removal of items.

Another aspect of the invention permits thermal conductivity between the hidden secondary compartment and the interior primary compartment of the cooler which allows items placed in the hidden compartment, such as medications, to be kept cooler than the outside ambient temperature in most situations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable cooler with the top lid open exposing the primary compartment and an open access door revealing a secondary compartment incorporating pertinent aspects of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of a portable cooler with one side of the wall partially cut away to reveal a portion of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the inventive portable cooler showing a drawer structure in its relation to the cooler and a latch in an unlatched condition.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the portable cooler showing details of the drawer and latch arrangement in a latched condition in its relation to the cooler.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the portable cooler as it would appear with the compartment doors closed. The internally mounted latch and lock mechanism is shown in dotted lines to indicate that it is not visible from the outside when the compartment door is closed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings in detail and in particular to FIG. 1, a portable type cooler 10 is shown with an open top lid 12 and with an open access door 14 on one end revealing generally the presence of a hidden compartment 16. The cooler structure itself is of conventional design having a main or primary container housing 18 which, in this example, is rectangular in shape. As such, the container housing 18 has four upright walls integral with a floor 25. The two longer walls 26,27 run lengthwise along opposite sides of the container and two shorter walls 28,29 form opposite end walls. The external housing of a conventionally designed cooler is made from materials which together maintain low thermal conductivity between the interior compartments and the ambient temperature outside the cooler. In some ordinary coolers, there is also low thermal conductivity between interior compartments. However, for the inventive cooler described here, there is high thermal conductivity through a common partition between the largest interior compartment and at least one secondary, smaller interior compartment 16 and this smaller compartment has an access door 14 separate from the top lid 12 which covers the main container housing 18.

A rectangular top lid 12 is attached to the main container housing 18 by a hinge 20 running lengthwise along the top edge 21 of the container housing 18. The cooler is also supplied with a latch 36 and locking mechanism 37 (not shown in detail) at the center of the top edge of the main or primary container housing 18 on the side opposite the hinge 20. Handles 32 are normally provided at opposite ends on the outside of the container housing to make it easier to carry. A drain port and stopper (not shown) are often supplied with this type of cooler and are usually located near the floor of an end wall.

As shown in the foreground of FIG. 1, a generally rectangular access door 14 is shown in an open position in the lower portion of end wall 28 of the container housing 18. The door 14 is cut completely across the outer shell of the end wall 28 in an effort to disguise the presence of the door. Pattern lines 44 are designed to blend the outline of the door into the exterior surface of the cooler. In this example, horizontal lines 44 are shown that will cause the access door in closed position to blend in with the pattern on the side of the cooler. However it will be understood that any pattern or graphic design visible on the surface of the container that de-emphasizes the outline of the door may be appropriate if it camouflages the presence of the access door 14. As such, the door may not be entirely rectangular but may have vertical edges that are scalloped, stepped or irregular to meet the disguise requirements of the pattern applied to the outer surface of the container body.

With reference to FIG. 2, access door 14 is attached to the main container housing 18 by hinge 40. Hinge 40 as shown is made from material which has a surface appearance similar to access door 14 and the outer shell of the main container 18, however, it is understood that other types of hinges and hinge material are available to perform an equivalent function. Access door 14 is located adjacent the internal compartments of cooler 10 and forms part of the external wall of the cooler. When access door 14 is closed it will remain closed because of frictional interference between outer edges of the door 14 and the internal edges of the opening in the side of the cooler shown generally by numeral 46 in FIG. 1. In certain instances a bendable flange 81 may be added to the top of door 14 to provide more secure closure as the flange can be biased downwards by the top edge of the opening when the door is in a closed position as it is shown in FIG. 5.

The outer wall of cooler 10 in FIG. 2 has been cut away to reveal the location of hidden compartment 16, also referred to as a secondary compartment, which would typically extend 12″ into the interior of the main or primary cooler compartment 52. The secondary compartment 16 would be smaller in spatial volume than the primary compartment 52. The most important purpose of this compartment 16 is to provide a place for storage of valuables such as cell phones, keys or medications. The structure of compartment 16 is defined by the placement of a vertical separator wall 62 joined perpendicularly to horizontal floor extension 25A at the point furthest from end wall 28 as shown in FIG. 2. In a preferred embodiment, vertical wall 62 extends perpendicular to and integral with opposing walls 26 and 27. It is important that the edges of the separator be contiguous with the adjacent walls so that compartment 16 will be impervious to water or other liquids which may accumulate in the main cooler compartment 52. An important feature of this invention is that separator wall 62 and floor extension 25A are thermally conductive and thereby allow compartment 16 to reach an internal temperature similar to primary compartment 52 as they share a common partition. Therefore, medications or other items which are apt to spoil in a too warm or moist environment will be preserved in better condition if kept at cooler temperatures.

A slidable, open top drawer 65 in FIG. 3 is shown as part of a preferred embodiment of the invention. The drawer fits within compartment 16 and is comprised of a floor with four integral vertical sides. A combination lock and latch mechanism 70 is centrally located on the front of the drawer. The drawer can be moved along the surface of the floor 25 in compartment 16 on the plane shown by the arrows in FIG. 4. When the latch 70 is locked in a vertical position as shown in FIG. 4, it is inserted into an aperture in end wall 28 preventing drawer 65 from being withdrawn from compartment 16. When unlocked, the latch 70 can be moved to a horizontal or non-interfering position, and the drawer 65 can be slid out from compartment 16. A handle 83, visible in FIGS. 3 and 4, improves access to drawer 65. Alternatively, the latch mechanism can be mounted on or in the end wall 28 so that the latch itself can be rotated downward and locked in a vertical position to prevent a drawer held within the compartment 16 from being withdrawn. It is also within the scope of the invention in one variation to include the use of a lockable flap (not shown) behind door 14 when a drawer 65 is not used. The purpose of the flap is to restrict access to the hidden or secondary compartment when door 14 is opened. Such a flap would be fastened to floor 25 or to interior edge 46 in such a manner as to restrict access to compartment 16 and such a flap may also be equipped with a lock similar in effect to that supplied with drawer 65.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with a preferred embodiment in the form of a generally rectangular cooler, it is understood that this is but one example of the invention and should not be construed or viewed as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined by the following claims: 

1. A portable cooler comprising: A container housing having at least two separate compartments of which one is primary and larger in volume, and the other secondary and smaller in volume, said compartments sharing a common partition, a top lid member connected to the container housing by hinge means permitting the lid member to be opened or closed allowing selective access to the primary compartment, And a door located in the wall, adjacent the primary compartment of the container housing, said door allowing selective access to the secondary compartment though not to the primary compartment.
 2. The portable cooler of claim
 1. in which the common partition is thermally conductive.
 3. The portable cooler of claim
 2. in which the door in closed position is substantially perpendicular to the top lid member.
 4. The portable cooler of claim
 1. in which the outer surface of the container housing is visually patterned to disguise the presence of the door in closed position.
 5. The portable cooler of claim
 4. in which the secondary compartment contains a slidable drawer capable of receiving objects such as cell phones, keys and medications.
 6. The portable cooler of claim
 5. in which a lockable latch means is mounted on the front of the slidable drawer.
 7. The portable cooler of claim
 5. in which a lockable latch means is mounted on the interior side of the wall of the container housing in a position to selectively inhibit access to the contents of a slidable drawer located within the secondary compartment.
 8. The portable cooler of claim
 5. in which the container housing contains an aperture for accepting a latch means within said wall of the container housing in position to inhibit access to the contents of a slidable drawer located therein.
 9. The portable cooler of claim
 6. in which the lockable latch means incorporates a combination type lock.
 10. The portable cooler of claim
 7. in which the lockable latch means incorporates a combination type lock.
 11. The portable cooler of claim 4 in which a lockable flap is located behind the access door to the secondary compartment capable of restricting access to the compartment when the access door is opened. 